Unsporterize an Enfield No.4 Mk.1

[Bruce_in_Oz]

If it has "commercial" markings that point to its "conversion" it is not just another "Bubba in the barn" job.

Whilst not nearly as valuable to collectors of the original, it sits in a class of its own.

There are a LOT of "non-military" Lee Enfields floating about; think of all of the "sporters" built by many British gunmakers, especially pre-WW1. In Canada you even had a "government" sporter; the EAL rifle.

So you could start with collecting well-made "sporters" and then slowly (and expensively), track down the "properly configured" originals as a companion / comparison piece.

If you can get them cheaply enough, perhaps keep them in a (dark) corner in your gun room sign-posted; "Bubba Was Here".

You might even find the odd "sporterized" Snider or Ross to add some more "local character". (You may ALSO find ORIGINAL Snider and Ross sporters lounging in odd places as well. I was given a pile of parts some years ago. In it was most of a "small" Snider sporter, in what looks to be .400 Rook, (or something equally obscure), with a broken stock, and no "hammer"; bore is almost mint. Another "rainy day" project!

Such things may even make useful "trade goods" in your bargaining to save a "nice" original of something, someday. (Common collectors "justification" line!)

We can't all afford to be purists.

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[Seaspriter]

If it has "commercial" markings that point to its "conversion" it is not just another "Bubba in the barn" job.

Bruce in Oz -- you make a very valid and important distinction. The Parker-Hale conversions were quite often "cream of the crop" cherry-picked FTR rifles, and very nicely converted. Many (like mine) had special foresights and rear-sights (such as the PH-4 &5). These should never be classified as "Bubba" monstrosities. In the '50s & '60s the Parker Hale conversions were often quite expensive with exotic stocks. (Google "Parker Hale Catalog" Images to see the quality of these guns) Bubba, on the other hand, is a category not worth gracing with discussion.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

And if you have any cash left over, you can start on the Epps sporters and then there are the Australian "commercial sporters", mostly produced at SAF Lithgow and sold by "Sportco".

I have one of the Sportco .25-.303 jobs, complete with correct vintage "Field" brand side mount for the scope. I removed and saved the "authentic / period" 1950's vintage Japanese optics and replaced them with Mr. Leupold's excellent 2-7x compact job. Superbly accurate, it is my "go-to" centre-fire rifle for general field shooting, (goats, pigs, feral cats and dogs, etc.), but I prefer a "full-sized" .303 cartridge, or larger, for "hat-rack hunting"

[lawrence_n]

I've heard a lot of noise about the Long Branch No.5 jungle carbines. I had a chance to buy one many years ago for $500.! It was gone before I could get back to the guy, no surprise there, so I missed a great chance. The information I was given is that Canadian Arsenals made 30 prototype No.5's. Of that number 27 were BELIEVED destroyed, one is purportedly in the Canadian War Museum, and 2 are in private hands. The one I saw had a '45 dated receiver and an "X" preface (or maybe it was "EX") and it did not have the standard "L" style serial number. If anyone has better or more certain information, I'd love to hear it. As to this thread about restoring a No.4, I just did one as well. It was a virtually unmolested '43 Long Branch from the condition of the metal, but it had the 3 holes drilled into the receiver (2 on the nox form, and one in the charger bridge). I managed to fill them not too badly and got my hands on "LB" marked wood and metal parts, so it' s a real beauty now.